Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-06-24
THE Y. M. G. A. ANNIVERSARY.

ment of the Young Mems Christian assoc
citation in this place was celebrated at
the Congregational church on Sunday
evening. 1t was Il union service. The
house was filled. Prof. W. w. Eaton,
president of the association, presided,
and in the desk with him were Rev. DIR.
White, Rev. 7. G.. Thompson and the
principal speaker of the evening. Rev
George A. Smith, pastor of the st. Al
bans Baptist church. The choir was
composed of over 20 of the best singers
from the several churches. and with Mrs.
Miner at the organ and Mr.. Cornell and
Mrs. Pitts to assist them, furnished as
fine music as has been heard in town for
many Il day.
Hymn $50, External Spirit, we con-
fess," having been sung, DR.. White read
the second chapter of Proverbs and
part of the first chapter of Johns Cos
pei beginning with the 10Th verse Prayer
was offered by Rev. Mr.. Thompson.
solo by Mr.. Cornell followed. President
Eaton made a brief address, in which he
sketched the origin and history of the
local association. 1t grew out of the
work here of Rev. b. Fay Mills; it was
organized in February, ,lSSG, and the
rooms were opened to the public on the
10Th of March. The object of the or
ganzation is to promote the intellectual,
social and religious interests of young
men. The reading room has been fire.
quented to a lgreater extent than could
have been hoped, the lectures well at
tended and the religious meetings hear
tily sustained. The association has
brought the members of the varions de-
nominations together and thus promoted
unity and harmony. The attitude of the
people toward it is all that could be
wished. 1t is the almost unanimous con-
viction that the association must be kept
up. The Ladies' auxiliary had rendered
valuable aid in maintaining the institu
ton. The great needs of the association
are. Il home that it can call its own. sub
scriptions. larger membership. the
prayers of the community and charity
for its shortcomings.
Mr.. Stratton. the secretary. next read
Il short statement of what had been accom-
plished by the association since he took
hold of it, 1t was largely statistical, be-
ing devoted chiefly to summary of the
reports that have appeared in these col
umns from month to month. 1t showed
that the association has ii mission to per-
form in this community and that it is do
ing good work. He emphasized partc
ularly the necessity for a gymnasium.
Hymn 563, 'Iow firm foundation"
was sung, and the president introduced
Rev. Mr.. Smith. who delivered IA sensible
and in every way commendablc address
on the topic, capabilities that VIM" He
said. in substances
The worlds need and cry is for conse-
Grated young men. The worlds work
has been and must ever be done by them.
Men of age, if widely useful. began in
early maturity. Napoleon at twenty
five had scaled the Alps and confronted
Italy. Luther at thirty-one had dared
and conquered the pope. But most great
enterprises require years in their compile
ton; hence a beginning must be made
early. Stephenson was fifteen years
perfecting the Locomotives: Watt spent
thirty years on the condcnsing engine
Morse took nine years to complete the
telegraph Work to advance the arts
and sciences, work to uplift humanity.
lies at every young mans door. Will he
take it and bring its possibilities to pass?
Certain qualities may be noted that will
equip him for service-grip, grit and
grace.
Grip-The young man who is to win
must shave and hold some duty to be
done. Wendell Phillips says every true
orator must have, first, "a cause and Il
conviction" Causes there are in album
dance; Jordans for JOshuas, victories for
victors. Grasp them readily and firmly.
Let it be II grip all your own. Wait for
no well-trodden turnpikes; blaze a path
in a trackless wood, if need be. Be not
content to earn your bread by the sweat
of your fathers brow, but by your own.
Upon the old NOrseman's crest is "A pick
axe, with this inscription. "Find a way
or make one" Make highways in the
wilderness; construct chariots of prog
ress to go over them. Do not wait to be
sent-go. Let there be purpose in your
France has for IA century CROPPED aimless-
ly. Now that she decides to make the
people her sovereign and not Bourbon
she is getting grip upon her mission
The Palais Royal is bazaar; the Lux.
emburg Il picture-gallery. The crown
jewels, long in the museum, are taken
out and sold-the crown of Napoleon
first, the swords of Louis 18th and the
Dauphin, for ten million francs, to helI
pay the Prussian war debt. Only the
diamond "Regent" remains to reflect hel
former glory. Your grip will be now OF
never DR.. Holland, revising his Tim
othy Titcombs letters, said, late in life
IL am painfully conscious that if haC
not written this book when did, | cOulC
not write it to-day" Waste no years
If you do not lay firm hold of some life
work and win its first victories before
you are thirty, you never will, for a
that age, Intellectually, you have ceased
to grow; you only ripen after that. b